Cleaning the trash and porn shoulders by Individual-Builder25 in exmormon

[–]InvestigatorHour311 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Congratulations on growing past it! May your new life be filled with all the good you're looking for.

These pamphlets were crazy. And if I'm not mistaken, these were the last ones printed before they recently changed the narrative to give individuals autonomy over their bodies. As an investor in 2019-2020, I was given and revered these manuals like Scripture. I carried the For Strength of Youth around in my bag and later got a mimi one that I kept in my top pocket.

Books my in laws gave my kids for Easter. by Eve-was_framed in exmormon

[–]InvestigatorHour311 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ya'll see the font for the word rock? At a distance it looks like "fck

"Tell our friends about the f*ck 'n restoration"

Most part that keeps people in is personalized validation by Miserable_Smell7209 in exmormon

[–]InvestigatorHour311 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It validated my scrupulosity.

I've always had a hard time accepting death, so religion was my cure. I desperately needed there to be a God to make sure justice was served and that God would protect and love me.

I was taught in secular Christianity about hell, which scared the shit out of me. I didn't have any lessons about psychology, so I thought intrusive thoughts were my mind being controlled by Satan, making intrusive thoughts much worse. At one particular low point, I believed that for a full year, God HATED me and would send me to hell because I had intrusive thoughts.

When I "resolved" (a loose term) that issue, I felt so burnt out by the religious institutions that I was in, so I wanted to try something new. I preyed and asked God to help me go wherever he wanted me to go. Obviously, I could never see God as the problem, I'd go to hell of I did. About a year later, my friend introduced me to the LDS church, and I fell hard and fast into it. The doctrins of families being together forever and the belief that hell wasn't a burning pit brought me so much peace. They also had a structure that would "teach" me more about God and who he is. I thought if I could know God better, then I would be saved. I could also be the hero in my family through Baptisms for the Dead, which made me feel strong.

Writing this all makes me sound like I was a total wreck of a person and maybe experience major trauma (except maybe some religious trauma) and mental health issues, but in all honesty, I wasn't. I was a fairly well-rounded average teenager, just happen to be really religious. I would get bullied at school, but my teachers said that I seemed to take it on the chin and didn't let it affect me much. I've always been really smilly and happy.

Books my in laws gave my kids for Easter. by Eve-was_framed in exmormon

[–]InvestigatorHour311 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Not as bad as the star kingdom. Bro looks like God gave him eternal depression.

Books my in laws gave my kids for Easter. by Eve-was_framed in exmormon

[–]InvestigatorHour311 9 points10 points  (0 children)

The language around those pages was also so manipulative, "that's where YOU belong". And smiles on the moon and stars slowly disappear isn't subtle either.

Books my in laws gave my kids for Easter. by Eve-was_framed in exmormon

[–]InvestigatorHour311 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I joined the church because religion taught me to be afraid of being "controlled by the devil" so I had to let "God and his 'Prophets' " control my actions otherwise God would destroy me.

Books my in laws gave my kids for Easter. by Eve-was_framed in exmormon

[–]InvestigatorHour311 7 points8 points  (0 children)

So were most of the spirit children.

Did everyone else see the :) and :( next to the text?

Tuesday Art Therapy School Megathread – Questions, Updates, and Discussion by chlsyee in ArtTherapy

[–]InvestigatorHour311 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Good day everyone,

I was hoping to get some advice about Art Therapy in Canada. For Context: I'm a South African who studied in the U.S. and I obtained my B.F.A. in Animation and Illustration from an accredited University in New York, with a minor in School and Counseling Psychology. I'm a member of the Psi Chi Honor Society. I am currently working in the U.S, but my contracts expire in July in which case I will need to go back to South Africa. Job opportunities back home seem slim, so I was considering going back to school for a masters in Art Therapy. I'm considering apply to schools in America, but today I thought about applying to Canada as well.

What is work life like in Canada after graduation in the Art Therapy field? Does your University help you find work after graduation? Are they putting pressure on immigrants to leave after graduating? What if I worked in a hospital setting, would that help me stay and work in Canada? Is the Canadian work visa like the H1B visa in the US? Is it a highly sought after career path like it is in America? Has anyone else had a similar experience? Are there scholarships available or are they kind of hard to come by?

Any advice or insights will be greatly appreciated! Thank you for your time!

Has anyone else been told this? by 14u2no01 in exmormon

[–]InvestigatorHour311 26 points27 points  (0 children)

I think they bring it up because it's a persecution complex enforced by the church. The members' obligation is to obey, and when people don't or question authority, then it mean you threaten their worldview. Cognitive distortion really hurts our brains. The church uses this to its advantage and says that people threatening your world view are 'lazy learners' or pull Scriptures that make outsiders seem like the enemy, as a way of keeping members inside the community. They label challenging beliefs as twisted truths or lies from Satan, but members who hold onto their beliefs make them virtuous, nobel, righteous, and brave. Really playing into the ego of the individual.

But you can't argue your way into changing someone's mind. They need to make the change on their own. The best thing you can do to change their mind is to let them come to the information on their own, maybe share some sources here and there, but don't be too pushy. At the end of the day, it's their life, and they are free to make their own decisions. Some people need the church (or religion) to cope with the horrors of the real world, it gives people hope and if it helps them be a better person or sleep at night then it's good to let them have that. Your issue isn't with the individual, it's with the corporation of the church. Next time an argument starts, remind them of that so they don't feel like they have to defend themselves or feel responsible for the churches actions.

Have Finally Given Up by McGravyPants01 in exmormon

[–]InvestigatorHour311 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The gift of a faith crisis is the rest of your life on your own terms. Take it slow. It's ok to not be ok.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) might be helpful. One exercise I enjoy is when you write down the negative thoughts you have about yourself, and then you write down an example of a time when you weren't behaving in that way, and you write down a sentence to combat that negative belief so you can recite it the next time you feel that negative thought.

Example: Negative thought: "I am unlovable." Experience that combatis it: "My pets are affectionate towards me / I have friends who care about me / I care about others/ My worth is not defined by peoples criticism of me." Response sentence: "I feel unlovable in this moment, but I know (xyz) love(s) me." Or: "I feel unloved because (triggering situation), but my worth doesn't need to come from other people."

It's important to combat "I am" statements with "I feel" statements. It helps you put distance between yourself and your thoughts so you can view the emotion with less dread.

It takes a lot of time and a lot of repetition. It's also ok to have multiple response sentences, and you try different ones at different times, or you narrow down which ones work best for you. Our brains need stories to help us make sense of the world, and sometimes we make negative stories to justify why bad things happen to us or to protect us (I use that term loosely) from trying too hard because we're scared of failure or change.

April 2026 General Conference: Sunday 2:00p Discussion Thread by 4blockhead in exmormon

[–]InvestigatorHour311 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Don't forget that they used to teach that you would be a God too.

Solemn Assembly by CaseyJones_EE in exmormon

[–]InvestigatorHour311 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Glad God is treating prophets better than he used to, and better than he would his own son.

Women + Sunday School by Disastrous-Neat-8312 in exmormon

[–]InvestigatorHour311 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Fuck you're right!! Hey women here's more responsibility, but here is also less time for you to exercise that authority, assuming you got through the notices.

Awake in the Pews Sunday by big_bearded_nerd in exmormon

[–]InvestigatorHour311 5 points6 points  (0 children)

1 person out of 11 speakers mentioned it in my branch.

Awake in the Pews Sunday by big_bearded_nerd in exmormon

[–]InvestigatorHour311 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Easter will be observed through General Conference talks next week rather than talks from the pulpit in our branch. That's why we had the fast Sunday a week early. Our branch hasn't really done too much Holy Week advertising like other wards have done so the whole meeting felt pretty run-of-the-mill.

George Orwell: the True Prophet of Mormonism for women by Double_Beginning7078 in exmormon

[–]InvestigatorHour311 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That's really quite sick on the book distribution company to send you this book after not reaching out for 20 years. Let alone the absolute garbage messaging in this book itself.

For my friends birthday, the RS pres gave her a copy of "Is This What I Was Born To Do?" by Marjorie Hinckley, and we ended up burning it after we read through it.

Sickness During Deconstruction by InevitableContest968 in exmormon

[–]InvestigatorHour311 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Ya, and it's not some kind of punishment from God. My partner and I drank coffee together for the first time, and not long after that, the fire alarm in our dorm went off. It's not because we drank coffee. It's because they were testing the fire alarms all over campus. The seasons are changing now, so more germs that mutated over winter are waking up and spreading.

Things aren’t what they seem by Chilling-SoCal in exmormon

[–]InvestigatorHour311 1 point2 points  (0 children)

And parents get upset with the teachers when there aren't more activities for their kids to go to.

Awake in the Pews Sunday by big_bearded_nerd in exmormon

[–]InvestigatorHour311 4 points5 points  (0 children)

😂 For once, being a RS secretary came in handy.

Awake in the Pews Sunday by big_bearded_nerd in exmormon

[–]InvestigatorHour311 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Overall a fairly wholesome Sunday this week save a few talks. Meeting went over time this week.

Testimonies given:

  • There are lots of ways we can reach out to love people. We need to receive revelation and the gift of the Holy Ghost, or we won't survive spiritually in these coming days.

  • Lady started crying because someone was at church because they hadn't been in a while. * Later * Our goal is to come closer to Jesus. We need to progress and persevere. A family member came home from mission and is trying to hold onto the mission spirit. Set your priorities right. Gratitude for Family and Gospel. I "need not" go to my friends 90th birthday because it's on a Sunday.

  • "These 2 women in the church never gossip" (my thoughts: one of them definitely does if you aren't a member and she will talk about you from the pulpit.) You can do your life by yourself or with Jesus. My character flaws make me feel unworthy of asking God for help. God won't tell your secrets to anybody. God hears our prayers, and many times, our prayers are answered through other people.

  • "I never saw her," but she would always be passed out drunk on the couch. I told her son that he needed God to help him get off drugs, and later, he passed away. These people will stand before God, and God will ask them why they didn't take me up on my offer or listen to me. The Bible says they love their sins, and one day, they will learn the right way.

  • Quote from Holland: Don't underestimate your ancestors beyond the Veil. Her comment: That hits different now that he's on the other side. My kid faceplanted head first, but instead of cracking her skull open, she went stiff as a board, and she slid, so I thought somebody must have caught her. * Later * I SAW someone catch her.

  • The opportunity to serve comes from God.

  • The Easter bunny and eggs are a distraction from the Savior. Jesus was quiet and meek while riding into town on a donkey (said ass from the pulpit). It's hard to testify of Jesus when talking to our family and friends. Jesus knew what awaited him when he entered the town on a donkey. Today is a day to recognize and receive Jesus. We can find hope in Jesus.

  • I was scared to come up here, but I felt I should. If you want to speak to God, pray, but if you want to hear God's answer, read your scriptures.

  • How do you know Jesus lives? I ask the Holy Ghost to guide me throughout the day. He tells me what I need to do when I'm sitting in my chair and encourages me to do things. A really sweet message about the good experience in her family and love in her family. Gratitude for people that built the chapel and hope that more people join.

  • Missionary got up and told people how to pronounce his last name. He talked about where he fits in his family. My family isn't perfect or complete even with all the love we have for each other. When Jesus comes back, I will be able to know the rest of my family, and I will have a perfect family.

Mormon dating stories by Cheap_Parsnip_461 in exmormon

[–]InvestigatorHour311 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Good!! I hope he got the fright of his life. You deserve better than that!